PROPAGATION 23 



should remain in these quarters until the Spring of the 

 following year. 



If the space at the disposal of the grower is very 

 limited, they may be allowed to flower in these quarters. 

 The practice to be followed in such cases is to note 

 carefully each seedling flower as it opens, and if thought 

 good enough to save and perpetuate, it should immedi- 

 ately be lifted and placed in a specially prepared bed, 

 which has been deeply dug and well manured. In this 

 way, the grower will gradually accumulate several 

 plants of new varieties, if he be lucky enough to raise 

 any worth perpetuating. The growth and other 

 characteristics can then be closely watched, and any 

 plants not coming up to the standard required may be 

 eliminated. The great point to be remembered is 

 never to leave a variety worthy of propagation too long 

 in the seedling bed, among the heterogeneous collection 

 there to be seen, but to lift it as soon as opportunity 

 occurs. If this is not done, the plant is apt to become 

 long and drawn, and most unsuitable for replanting. 

 To this end, therefore, it is wise to give away or destroy 

 any seedling that does not denote some distinct advance 

 on the older varieties, thus giving the remaining seed- 

 lings room to develop the more satisfactorily. 



On the other hand, if the grower has plenty of space 

 at his disposal, at the beginning of March or earlier, he 

 should plant out the seedlings from which so much is 

 expected into a special bed. Any good garden soil will 

 answer the purpose, but of course it will be an advantage 

 if this has been deeply dug and well manured. The por- 

 tion of the ground allocated to the seedlings should be 

 well broken up and raked over, and planting be proceeded 

 with forthwith. Select a nice dry day for planting. 



The young plants should be lifted with as large a 

 ball of soil adhering to the roots as possible, and a good 

 quantity of soil taken out when planting, so that the 



